Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / Box found, possibly held James’ bones: Scientists confirm the box is 19 centuries old

Box found, possibly held James’ bones: Scientists confirm the box is 19 centuries old

October 30, 2002 by Kyle Peveto

By Kyle Peveto, Staff Writer

A limestone burial box that may have held the bones of James, the brother of Jesus, was made public last week.

The box, or ossuary, was dated to A.D. 63 by scientists and was confirmed to be at least 19 centuries old by the Israeli government’s geological survey.

Inscribed on the box in Aramaic was “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.”

These findings are published in the current issue of Biblical Archaeology Review by Andre Lemaire, who teaches at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Some scholars doubt that the box was made for James, Jesus’ brother.

According to Lemaire, in a city the size of Jerusalem where Christian tradition holds that James was a leader of the early church there could have been as many as 20 men named James with a brother named Jesus and a father named Joseph.

What makes the ossuary special is the mention of a brother on the top. Of the hundreds of ossuaries unearthed, only two have mentioned a brother’s name.

Some scholars infer the mention of Jesus means he was an important person or that he paid for the ossuary, said Dr. Ken Cukrowski, associate dean of academic programs and associate professor of the New Testament.

The ossuary would be the oldest archaeological link to Jesus to be found since a fragment of John 18 from A.D. 125 was found in Egypt in 1920.

“It’s not like the Dead Sea Scrolls; it won’t change the way we look at things,” Cukrowski said. “People will use it for confirmation” of their faith, he added.

Jewish families commonly used ossuaries between 20 B.C. and A.D. 70 to store bones about a year after the death of a loved one.

The ossuary was found at least 15 years ago and was sold to a private collector, who wished to remain anonymous.

The collector did not realize the possible significance of the box until he asked Lemaire to interpret the Aramaic, which was the common language of the Jews in the first century.

This month the ossuary will travel to Toronto Canada’s Royal Ontario Museum for display during the annual meeting of Bible scholars. The Israeli government granted a four-month export license to allow it out of the country before knowing the significance of the box.

When the ossuary returns in February, the Israeli Antiquities Authority will examine it for up to 90 days before returning it to the owner.

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Gallery: Spring commencement honors 2021-22 graduates

  • New IM Fields location confirmed

  • At $250 million, Higher Ground aims to make impacts across campus

About Kyle Peveto

You are here: Home / News / Box found, possibly held James’ bones: Scientists confirm the box is 19 centuries old

Other News:

  • Gallery: Spring commencement honors 2021-22 graduates

  • New IM Fields location confirmed

  • At $250 million, Higher Ground aims to make impacts across campus

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray:
https://acuoptimist.com/2022/04/not-so-friendly-competition/

Reply on Twitter 1521918832738144257 Retweet on Twitter 1521918832738144257 1 Like on Twitter 1521918832738144257 8 Twitter 1521918832738144257
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
3 May

Royce Clough and Jael Morel have been named as Mr. and Miss ACU for the class of 2022, a traditional honor voted on by the student body and awarded to two members of each graduating class.

Reply on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Retweet on Twitter 1521607087553458178 Like on Twitter 1521607087553458178 18 Twitter 1521607087553458178

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
"Maybe we just don’t care enough. But if we do start caring, and if we become the loudest fans in the WAC, let’s stick to supportive cheering." Read more from Guest Columnist Londyn Gray: ... See MoreSee Less

Not-so-friendly competition - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

BY: LONDYN GRAY “Number 18, you look like you don’t shower!” I chuckled and shrugged it off. “Londyn!” They had looked up the roster. “Do you even brush your teeth?” I laughed again, rol...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

3 months ago

The Optimist
Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and the Department of Theatre. ... See MoreSee Less

Cullen Auditorium still set for a name change alongside renovations - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

Cullen Auditorium is expected to be handed over to the university in June 2022, alongside a name change that coupled with the renovation will create new future for the Cornerstone class, Chapel and th...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Women’s tournament run ended by first-round exit against UTRGV

The Wildcats’ Western Athletic Conference tournament run and season came to a ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 22. 2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.16.2022
  • Optimist Newscast 2.9.2022

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2022 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved